Teachers make use of teaching strategies to deliver content. The strategies may differ according to the

Question

content being taught and through understanding how children learn. Choose two of the following three
strategies [Play-based pedagogy, Inquiry-based learning and Role play]. Describe how you would
use two of the strategies in one lesson for foundation phase learners , mentioning the activities and assessments you would
administer

Answer 1

Lesson Topic: The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Target Group: Foundation Phase Learners (Ages 5-7)

Strategy 1: Play-Based Pedagogy

Activity: Butterfly Garden Creation

Description:

1. Setting Up: Create a 'butterfly garden' in the classroom with various art supplies (green paper for grass, colored paper for flowers, etc.) and craft materials (clay, scissors, glue).

2. Playing and Exploring:

   • Children will be divided into small groups where they will design their own butterfly gardens representing the different stages of a butterfly's life cycle (egg, larva, pupa, adult butterfly).
   • They will engage in role-playing where they pretend to be butterflies, laying eggs, hatching, feeding as caterpillars, forming chrysalises, and emerging as butterflies.
   • Encourage children to use their imagination and creativity while discussing their garden designs, asking guiding questions like, "What do butterflies need in their garden?"

Assessment:

• Observational Assessment: While children are creating, teachers will walk around, listen to discussions, and note children's understanding of the life cycle stages. Questions can be posed to check for comprehension.
• Reflection: After the activity, children will share their gardens with the class, explaining the life cycle stages they represented. This assessment will observe their verbal communication skills and their ability to convey knowledge learned during the lesson.

Strategy 2: Inquiry-Based Learning

Activity: Exploring the Life Cycle of a Butterfly through Investigation

Description:

1. Initial Questioning: Start with a question: "How does a butterfly grow and change?" Allow children to express their prior knowledge and curiosity about butterflies.

2. Guided Inquiry:

   • Provide each child with a butterfly egg chart (visual aids showing the life cycle stages).
   • Set up different learning stations around the classroom—one with pictures and videos of each life cycle stage, another with models (e.g., real-life versus illustrations), and a third with magnifying glasses to examine printed butterfly eggs or caterpillars more closely.
   • Children will rotate through the stations, engaging with the materials and asking questions such as, "What do you observe at each stage?"

Assessment:

• Learning Journal Entries: Children will keep a journal during this inquiry-based activity, where they can draw or write what they see at each station. The entries will be assessed for understanding of the life cycle and the species that undergo this process.
• Gallery Walk: Create a gallery walk in the classroom where children display their findings and journal entries, explaining their learning to peers. This allows assessment of their explanation skills and understanding of the life cycle.

Conclusion

Combining play-based pedagogy with inquiry-based learning allows for engaging and multifaceted exploration of the life cycle of a butterfly. Through creative activities and hands-on investigation, foundation phase learners actively participate in their learning while developing critical thinking and communication skills.